taxi driver.. wtf?

[Joe826]

i just watched this for the first time and actually quite enjoyed it. i love deniro's older stuff. my only question is: what's the point? i mean, i liked it and all, but if there was more to the movie than an vietnam vet/taxi driver who is really pissed off and eventually becomes very violent then i missed have missed it. if not that's cool too. i'm done making lame posts about movies now.

[Rushmore]

I can't resist replying because Taxi Driver is one of my top 5 favorite movies.

At the expense of sounding pedantic (which I have been accused of here before), I think there are two big issues at work with Travis Bickle.

First, I think one thing Scorsese's trying to show us is that there people among us who, while seemingly normal enough, are really disconnected in a lot of ways. They are not moved by pop culture or by "social mores." They make their own rules, which may or may not work for the rest of us.

Also, I imagine Scorcese was making a point about New York at the time ("If you're gonna do one thing, fix this city; it's an open sewer," etc), or maybe just about cities in general. My guess is that he intended to show how individuals (esp. the ones I just mentioned) can get so lost and marginalized in a big city that their methods become a little unsound. I remember NYC at the time--it was hell. I guess Travis saw the same thing.

Also, just from a filmmaking standpoint, it's just so goddamned great. I mean, that hokey saxophone music wouldn't have worked in any other movie. It's perfect here. The automat--perfect. The emerging racism (it's easy to start to lay blame for all of your problems at the feet of a repressed minority)--perfect.

Lastly, the dialogue is the nuts:

"I think I got stomach cancer."

"I believe a person should become a person like other people."

"Someday, a real rain will come and wash all scum off the streets."

It goes on and on. Think I'll go watch it right now.

Thanks for the idea.

[tdarko]

after seeing the assassination for richard nixon i further appreciated how well done taxi was. its tough to capture that mood without making the audience uncomfortable and awkard which is what happened in AFRN. AFRN was tough to watch, i dont recommend it.

[partygirluk]

It was reported over here that De Niro and Scorcese are in talks to make a sequel. What do you think?

[sfer]

There's a bit of voiceover that starts with "Loneliness has followed me my whole life..."

[Duke]

[ QUOTE ]
It was reported over here that De Niro and Scorcese are in talks to make a sequel. What do you think?

[/ QUOTE ]

I suppose that would end the debate as to whether he died at the end or not.

~D

[fsuplayer]

great flick. one of the best i've ever seen.

[rusellmj]

I saw an interview years go with the guy who wrote the screenplay. If I remember right, it only took him a few hours to write. His inspiration was the time he had spent as a New York city cab driver. It was a great interview. He said that the night/early morning life in NY is a surreal experience. He remarked that back then at 2am in NY about the only thing to do ws pornography. One can only imagine the type of people he was constantly exposed to and the impact on his psyche.

Russ

[Joe826]

Good replies. Thanks, i'm gonna have to watch this one again.

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
I suppose that would end the debate as to whether he died at the end or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean Cape Fear, right? Cuz Travis is certainly still alive at the end of Taxi Driver.

Please disregard this post if you were making a joke and I just don't have the proper plugin for the special sarcasm font.

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
It was reported over here that De Niro and Scorcese are in talks to make a sequel. What do you think?

[/ QUOTE ]

I cannot imagine this is true. I just did a search, and anything that mentions it is of debatable credibility at best.

Why make a sequel? There's no chance in hell you can even approach the original. You'd just be setting yourself up for failure and ridicule.

See The Godfather III.

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]

See The Godfather III.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or House Party 2